Duracrome Top Replating

[ha_asfan]

Berlyn, Francis has a chrome top and pretty badly abused by a malicious Brillo wielding homeowner. Everything about her is just great, other than that top and Mark, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....has forced me to make plans to dismantle Francis and re-do her top. I'm still not calling it a facelift...more like a little spa treatment for her top, pans, drips and grates. Here's the big question....if two totally unfocused, semi handy, well meaning, easily distracted & sober fools were to dismantle Francis, how much time would be involved ? We [i mean, they] have all the tools needed and all their fingers too...is this a project for a few hours or a day ?

[lowracer]

I like the idea of the spa treatment. A facelift would be something drastic, like to paint the range in a tie-dye pattern or something...

You could get the top off in no time at all. Pop the side panels, then un-do about a dozen screws that hold all the burner supports to the top, and off it comes. I'd say it would take you no more than an hour. Of course once Francis is "topless," her stove can't be used to cook anything, since there's nothing to hold up the burners anymore. They hang suspended from the stove top.

The burners just pop out, there's nothing to unbolt. The grates and drip pans likewise.

I've modified my signature line, I think this would be a good Chambers marketing slogan, thanks (Joe) for the idea:

Chambers Ranges: Good Looking and Good Cooking!

<font color="#FFFFFF" size="1">[ January 28, 2006 10:43 AM: Message edited by: lowracer ]</font>

[RobbiQuest]

Ok, I'm going to be the Voice of Reason (sorry, it's the Mom in me): you also have to remove the broiler-box and the Thermowell from the top, and all the little brackets, before shipping it off. Certainly is do-able, but don't underestimate the effort.

Also, Lockout can attest to his troubles with having his top rechromed: his original top got broken in transit. Make SURE you have yours professionally packed and ship with insurance. With those big cut-outs, the tops are more fragile than they look. Require the chromer to save your original packing materials and repack in them to send back to you.

[ha_asfan]

My valves were taken care of when we first got the stove....the dirt is pretty much gone...got manic about that...but, once she is all opend up, i know i won't be able to resistand will clean and clean and clean and........

[ha_asfan]

I will have this done locally...we may be the former Car Capital of the World but we still have a moterload of custom metal finishing shops for all those auto customizers. I'll be the responsible one for delivering and picking up. So I should get the digital camera out and photograph every step of dismantling and pack and label each little screw, not and bold in individual baggies...see ! I've been paying attention !

[lowracer]

Yeah I forgot about the broiler box. But it's just six more screws. And the T-well is just a few screws more. Heck as long as you've got it all apart, might as well get in there and start degreasing and rust removal. Bet your valves could use a new batch of grease too, and then there's the springs, probably could replace those, and that little mica sheet...

Stop by Wal-Mart on your way home from the chromers, you're gonna need a microwave or you'll starve. [img]wink.gif[/img]